ashockney said:
In terms of "system" I was honestly the biggest fan of the Mythus Magic (Dangerous Journeys) system. Spell slots dictated spells known, then you could cast any spells you wanted from those you knew, per spell level. Very much like Sorcerers, but with far more (probably double) the spells.
To expand on this.
In
Mythus you have "Castings" (spells are a type of casting). One has "Known" Castings, "Recallable" castings, and "Studyable" castings. The first being those one knows and can cast right away, the second those one must retrieve from memory before casting, and the last castings one has in one's books. These can be cast from the book, at a penalty. You can have a limited number of Known Castings, a larger number of Recallable Castings, and a virtually unlimited number of Studyable Castings. Though one's castings tomes can get heavy. Yes, magic in
Mythus can be heavy reading.
Please note the numbers were overall. If you are able to 'know' so many Spellsong Castings, that is it for Spellsongs. To increase capacity you have to increase the pertinent stat. Means you need to be careful when it comes to choosing which Castings to know. You can fill up the lower Grade (level) slots and have to room for higher Grade Castings.
Note that in
Mythus schools deal more with subject, rather than with subject and method of realization (couldn't think of what else to call it, so I invented a new term

). It is also a spiritual system, with most schools having a connection with one of the 5 Ethoi, or a direct connection (Sorcery and Witchcraft) with the forces of evil.
For instance, to use Priestcrafting (clerical) castings one must first choose a pantheon to serve, and then take an oath of service with a member of that pantheon. With deity determining Ehos. Once all that is done the cleric is restrictied to the chosen Ethos and cannot use castings of a different Ethos. Dweomercrafting, which also has Ethos connected schools, is more open.
Known Castings do not have to be prepped before use. Recallable Castings do. But,
Mythus does use spell points (called 'heka' and pronounced 'hay-kah'), and has a success/failure check. In the case of Recallable Casting the 'preparation' consists of remembering the casting, which can take some time. RCs are best saved for use at home or when things are calm and settled.
"Damn, I hate getting eviscerated when I'm trying to remember a spell."
For Studyable Castings you do need the appropriate book and the right page.
If you'd like more details drop me a PM or email and I'll dig them out for you.